| 01/18/2005 |
| Boyertown group promotes diversity |
| Lisa Schaeffer , lschaeffer@pottsmerc.com |
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BOYERTOWN -- After
witnessing firsthand the devastating effects of
racism, Julie Pinto felt the need to become active in promoting
diversity in her community.
Pinto, 17, is a neighbor and friend of the Defoe family of
Gilbertsville. On Oct. 30, someone attempted to burn a cross in the
Defoe family’s front yard, but the person was chased away by a
concerned neighbor before the cross was lit. Pinto said after the
attempted cross burning she was inspired to join the Boyertown Area
Unity Coalition in hopes of preventing future acts of racism in the
community. "Our goal is to unite everybody and it’s important to try and make a difference. And by coming out here and reading, it says we’re all together," Pinto said. Pinto and other members of the unity coalition spent Monday volunteering to read diversity focused books to children at the J.K. Boyer Boyertown Community Library. This was the third annual Read-A-Thon, which was held for children of all ages in remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. Pinto said she feels it is important to start teaching children about tolerance at a young age. "It’s very important that they learn early and get instilled in them that we’re all equal," Pinto said. The event was created three years ago by Unity Coalition member Louise Doskow and Kathee Rhode, the library’s former director, and other library staff. The group created the program in honor of Martin Luther King Day and in hopes of introducing children to other cultures through reading. Some of the books used for the event include the award-winning books recommended by Coretta Scott King, widow of civil rights leader Martin Luther King. "They wanted to provide a positive way to help the kids who were out of school to learn about diversity and other cultures," Marta Weller, the library’s acting director, said about the creation of the program. In addition to Pinto, Bob Fletcher of Bally volunteered to read during the day. Fletcher is an English professor at West Chester University and helps maintain the Unity Coalition’s Web site. Fletcher said it only takes one racist act in the community to create a bad impression for others living outside of the Boyertown area. Fletcher said reading to children helps them to begin understanding diversity while they are young. "I think this is really a good program in promoting understanding," Fletcher said. "If they don’t get that positive message you don’t know what they’re going to hear." In past years, students from the Pine Forge Academy have volunteered to read at the annual event. However, Weller said the students were unable to participate this year because of a flu epidemic at the Pine Forge Academy, which has left students too ill to leave their campus. The school’s choir was also unable to attend the Boyertown Area Ministerial because of illness, Weller said. Pine Forge Academy offices were closed Monday and no one was available for comment.
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